LETTER: Public safety hero dies

In November 1976, Department of Public Safety Patrolman Sammy Long was shot and killed by a suspect he had stopped for speeding. This occurred a few miles east of Rankin.

During the murder, a man who had been deer hunting with his son witnessed the murder. The hunter tried to intervene in the slaying by engaging the suspect with rifle fire. The hunter managed to mortally wound the suspect, but not in time to save Sammy’s life.

At the time of the incident, the hunter was living in San Angelo. He was no-billed by an Upton County grand jury for his involvement in the shooting. The records were sealed on these proceedings and the hunter has never been identified publicly.

Shortly after the incident, the hunter moved out of state, where he lived out the remaining years of his life. Sadly, he died on March 11 from natural causes.

I would like to thank the hunter and acknowledge his effort to save a fellow officer’s life. In my opinion, he was a true hero.